Phrasal verb
lead to
日本語結びつく※
Definition
phrasal verb. to cause something to happen or result in something.
phrasal verb. to cause an event or outcome; transitive, typically followed by a noun or clause indicating the resulting situation.
Examples
“The accident led to a lawsuit.”
“The new policy led to increased productivity in the company.”
“The discovery of penicillin led to a revolution in medical treatment.”
Examples
simple
“The accident led to a lawsuit.”
contextual
“The new policy led to increased productivity in the company.”
complex
“The discovery of penicillin led to a revolution in medical treatment.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “lead to” in context.
Verb
01. lead to a misunderstanding
“The lack of clear communication between the teams led to a misunderstanding about the deadline.”
verb + prep + noun
02. lead to changes
“The new government policy will lead to changes in how we recycle at home.”
verb + prep + noun
03. lead to serious problems
“Ignoring these small repairs now could lead to serious problems in the future.”
verb + prep + adj + noun
04. lead to success
“Hard work and a positive attitude will eventually lead to success in your career.”
verb + prep + noun
Adverb
05. directly lead to improvements
“Better training for staff will directly lead to improvements in customer service.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
06. inevitably lead to conflict
“Competing for the same resources will inevitably lead to conflict between the two groups.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
07. often lead to confusion
“Using too much technical jargon can often lead to confusion for the students.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
Usage
typically followed by a noun or clause indicating the result.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'cause' (more direct) and 'result in' (more formal); 'lead to' implies a causal relationship over time.
Confusables
Lead to focuses on the process or path that starts a chain of events, while result in focuses on the final outcome or consequence.
RememberLead to is the path; result in is the destination.
Phrasal verb
Particles
to
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
lead + to + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/lead-to
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0